Going Back in Time to Find the Root of Our Current Crisis
When looking around the world today, as conscious human beings we might see the erosion of ecosystems that sustain all life, the trash and plastic islands in our oceans, the declining insect populations, the shrinking of the world’s forests, climate change, soil degradation and polluted rivers. Then we might also see the volatile political climate, the worldwide social inequality, the increasing levels of stress, depression and burnout, even among our young. Both our outer and inner landscapes are under great strain.
How do we change this situation? Where to start? What to prioritize first?
To gain an understanding of human history culminating in today’s world, let’s take a look back in time and explore some of the key factors that has shaped today’s society — our relationships, culture, organizations and leadership — and the underlying issues creating the inner and outer strain we witness today.
The Connection Between Genders and our Connection with Nature
Research shows that humans started to venture out of sub-Saharan Africa around 100,000 years ago and began to colonize various habitable places around the globe. In central Asia and Europe anthropologists have discovered archaeological evidence, dating back to around 10,000 years ago (8000 BC), that indicate Homo sapiens lived rather peacefully in egalitarian communities, with a close sense of community where males and females were valued equally. Research also shows little evidence of wide- spread aggression, social division or hierarchy, but instead plenty of time for art, dance, and communal life.
During this epoch, humans lived in close proximity with wild, undomesticated nature and appreciated a strong sense of connection with the living Earth. Scientists studying ancient cultures and their religions have found a common thread across ancient cultures throughout the world where Sky God and Earth Goddess were worshipped. This was a masculine-feminine communion often described as a sacred marriage. A deep communion with nature and with the masculine-feminine qualities found within life was foundational to these ancient cultures. The cultural norm in these cultures was to uphold a deep sense of reverence for all life; everything was understood to be part of a greater whole. Humans understood their purpose on Earth as not only living to survive but also being custodians of the rhythms innate within nature — custodians of the Earth.
A Journey of Separation
Then a radical shift in climate and shift in society occurred from around 10,000 years ago onwards. By example, findings from a Middle Stone Age site in North Yorkshire, show that our ancestors survived a century-long drop in temperature of between 10 and 4 degrees Celsius. This begins what anthropologist Steve Taylor refers to as the Ego Explosion. Our sense of self-identity shifted from seeing ourselves as a part of nature to seeing ourselves as separate from nature. This heightening ego-awareness helped us gain a stronger sense of self and increased our self-agency and self-empowerment. It helped us survive heavy storms and harsh temperatures. And with this self-development we cultivated important aspects of our psychological, sociological and evolutionary development. This triggered the Agricultural Revolution bringing the domestication of livestock and widespread farming practices. Hunter gatherers now settled into permanent communities, growing crops, building homes and keeping animals for food and clothing.
These shifts are an important part of our adaptation and evolution to a rapid change in climate. Yet, this shift also came with a marked cultural shift: rising patriarchy, increasing stratification and division in society, the prioritization of Sky God over Earth Goddess, widespread militarization, the mechanization of weapons and tools for exploitation and domination of other humans and nature, the widespread use of currency, the advent of the written word, the right to own land, and many more cultural innovations.
This period marks a departure from being at one with nature. A Journey of Separation begins throughout the West, and goes through levels of incremental change in the centuries that follow: Hellenistic Greece, the Roman Empire, Medieval Europe and the Renaissance.
Throughout these cultural changes, a deep respect and connection with nature remains. Nature’s wild wisdom is intimately interwoven with everyday human life right up until about 500 years ago. And then…
Stay tuned for our series of blog posts examining “The Journey of Separation”, first one up will explore “The Separation of Human from Nature; Man from Women”.
- Giles Hutchins and Laura Storm
Get your copy here.
Sources:
Baring, Anne & Cashford, Jules (1993): The Myth of the Goddess, Evolution of an Image, Arkana Penguin Books
Overy, Richard (2006): The Times: Complete History of the World, Times
BooksStefon, Matt & Tikkanen, Amy (July 20, 1998): “Nature Worship”; Encyclopedia Britannica
Taylor, Steve (2005): The Fall, The Insanity of the Ego in Human History and The Dawning of A New Era, O Books